drum

[ druhm ]

/ drʌm /

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See synonyms for: drum / drummed / drumming on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural drums, (especially collectively for 11) drum.

a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow, usually cylindrical, body covered at one or both ends with a tightly stretched membrane, or head, which is struck with the hand, a stick, or a pair of sticks, and typically produces a booming, tapping, or hollow sound.

any hollow tree or similar object or device used in this way.

the sound produced by such an instrument, object, or device.

any rumbling or deep booming sound.

a natural organ by which an animal produces a loud or bass sound.

eardrum.

any cylindrical object with flat ends.

a cylindrical part of a machine.

a cylindrical box or receptacle, especially a large, metal one for storing or transporting liquids.

Also called tambour .Architecture.

any of several cylindrical or nearly cylindrical stones laid one above the other to form a column or pier.
a cylindrical or faceted construction supporting a dome.

Ichthyology. any of several marine and freshwater fishes of the family Sciaenidae that produce a drumming sound.

Also called drum memory .Computers. magnetic drum.

Archaic. an assembly of fashionable people at a private house in the evening.

a person who plays the drum.

Australian Informal. reliable, confidential, or profitable information: to give someone the drum.

verb (used without object), drummed,drum·ming.

to beat or play a drum.

to beat on anything rhythmically, especially to tap one's fingers rhythmically on a hard surface.

to make a sound like that of a drum; resound.

(of ruffed grouse and other birds) to produce a sound resembling drumming.

verb (used with object), drummed,drum·ming.

to beat (a drum) rhythmically; perform by beating a drum: to drum a rhythm for dancers.

to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.

to drive or force by persistent repetition: to drum an idea into someone.

to fill a drum with; store in a drum: to drum contaminated water and dispose of it.

Verb Phrases

drum out,

(formerly) to expel or dismiss from a military service in disgrace to the beat of a drum.
to dismiss in disgrace: He was drummed out of the university for his gambling activities.

drum up,

to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.
to obtain or create (customers, trade, interest, etc.) through vigorous effort: They were unable to drum up enthusiasm for the new policies.
to concoct; devise: to drum up new methods of dealing with urban crime.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about drum

beat the drum, to promote, publicize, or advertise: The boss is out beating the drum for a new product.

Origin of drum

First recorded in 1535–45; of uncertain origin; probably a back formation from drumslade “drum, drummer,” alteration of Dutch or Low German trommelslag “drumbeat,” equivalent to trommel “drum” + slag “a beat”; cognate with slay

OTHER WORDS FROM drum

un·der·drum·ming, noun

Other definitions for drum (2 of 2)

drum²

[ druhm ]

/ drʌm /

noun Scot., Irish English.

a long, narrow hill or ridge.

Origin of drum

First recorded in 1725–35; from Irish and Scots Gaelic druim, of unknown origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use drum in a sentence

But they had not quit and here they now were as the Emerald Society Pipes and Drums came into the Garden.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The NYPD Emerald Society pipes and drums struck up a slow march and the procession began the journey to the cemetery.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos|Michael Daly|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The line right before this is “With little tin horns and little toy drums.”
The Most Confusing Christmas Music Lyrics Explained (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The “rooty toot toot” is simply the noise the horns make, while “rummy tum tum” is the drums.
The Most Confusing Christmas Music Lyrics Explained (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was one night, with Tony Williams on drums and, I think, Richard Davis on bass.
Herbie Hancock Holds Forth|David Yaffe|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All the time there was a tremendous beating of drums and blowing of horns and ringing of bells.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
I hate drums in the march,' said the king, 'they do nothing but confuse the step.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
A white flag waved on the rampart, and the drums of the garrison beat the chamade.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
One of the musicians played upon two small drums, the other two on four-stringed instruments, similar to our violins.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
Half an hour after, drums beat, cannon thundered, and the majestic cathedral bell began to boom.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas

British Dictionary definitions for drum (1 of 2)

drum¹

/ (drʌm) /

noun

music a percussion instrument sounded by striking a membrane stretched across the opening of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere

beat the drum for informal to attempt to arouse interest in

the sound produced by a drum or any similar sound

an object that resembles a drum in shape, such as a large spool or a cylindrical container

architect

one of a number of cylindrical blocks of stone used to construct the shaft of a column
the wall or structure supporting a dome or cupola

short for eardrum

Also called: drumfish any of various North American marine and freshwater sciaenid fishes, such as Equetus pulcher (striped drum), that utter a drumming sound

a type of hollow rotor for steam turbines or axial compressors

computing a rotating cylindrical device on which data may be stored for later retrieval: now mostly superseded by disksSee disk (def. 2)

archaic a drummer

the drum Australian informal the necessary information (esp in the phrase give (someone) the drum)

verb drums, drumming or drummed

to play (music) on or as if on a drum

to beat or tap (the fingers) rhythmically or regularly

(intr) (of birds) to produce a rhythmic sound, as by beating the bill against a tree, branch, etc

(tr sometimes foll by up) to summon or call by drumming

(tr) to instil by constant repetitionto drum an idea into someone's head

Word Origin for drum

C16: probably from Middle Dutch tromme, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for drum (2 of 2)

drum²

/ (drʌm) /

noun

Scot and Irish a narrow ridge or hill

Word Origin for drum

C18: from Scottish Gaelic druim

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

drum

Idioms about drum

Origin of drum

OTHER WORDS FROM drum

Other definitions for drum (2 of 2)

Origin of drum

Words related to drum

How to use drum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for drum (1 of 2)

Word Origin for drum

British Dictionary definitions for drum (2 of 2)

Word Origin for drum